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Here is this week’s space weather and geophysical report, issued 2016 Apr 04 0340 UTC.

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 28 March – 03 April 2016

Solar activity was at low levels on 28 March due to an isolated C2 flare from Region 2524 (N15, L=277, class/area Eho/340 on 19 March) at 0228 UTC. The rest of the period was dominated by very low levels as Region 2526 (S05, L=178, class/area, Cso/200 on 29 Mar) was the only spot group on the disk until the emergence of new flux on 03 April. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed during the period.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels throughout the period.

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to major storm levels (G2-Moderate) during the period. From 28-31 March, solar wind parameters indicated the influence of a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Solar wind speeds increased from near 450 km/s at the beginning of the period to around 590 km/s by early on 30 March before declining to a low around 330 km/s by 02 April. Total field slowly declined from 8 nT early in the period to 3 nT by 01 April. The geomagnetic field responded with quiet to active levels on 28 and 30 March with quiet to unsettled levels on 29 and 31 March. Quiet conditions were observed on 01 April through midday on 02 April. At approximately 02/1344 UTC, a solar sector boundary crossing occurred into a negative (towards) sector followed by an increase in total field to a maximum of 18 nT at 02/1406 UTC while Bz reached a maximum negative deflection of -14 nT at 02/1522 UTC. Solar wind speed increased to near 540 km/s around 02/2131 UTC indicating the arrival of a co-rotating interaction region followed by another CH HSS. The geomagnetic field responded with unsettled to major storm levels (G2-Moderate) during the second half of 02 April. By 03 April, solar wind speed was in decline to around 400 km/s while total field measurements were near 6 nT. Quiet to active levels were observed on 03 April.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 04 April – 30 April 2016

Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels for the forecast period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels with high levels on 04, 06-10, 14-18, and 26-29 April in response to recurrent CH HSS activity.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels from 05-08, 11-15, 24-27, and 30 April with (G1) minor storm levels likely on 13-14 and 30 April and (G2) moderate storm levels likely on 12 April due to recurrent CH HSS activity.

Don’t forget to visit our live space weather and radio propagation web site, at: http://SunSpotWatch.com/

Live Aurora mapping is at http://aurora.sunspotwatch.com/

If you are on Twitter, please follow these two users: + https://Twitter.com/NW7US + https://Twitter.com/hfradiospacewx

Get the space weather and radio propagation self-study course, today. Visit http://nw7us.us/swc for the latest sale and for more information!

Check out the stunning view of our Sun in action, as seen during the last five years with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXN-MdoGM9g

We’re on Facebook: http://NW7US.us/swhfr

Here is this week’s space weather and geophysical report, issued 2016 Mar 28 0122 UTC.

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 21 – 27 March 2016

Solar activity was at predominately very low levels with an isolated C1 x-ray event observed on 23/0354 UTC from Region 2524 (N15, L=277, class/area Eho/340 on 19 Mar). No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed in coronagraph imagery.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels on 23 March, high levels on 22 March and moderate levels on 21 and 24-27 March.

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to unsettled levels with an isolated active interval observed early on 23 March. The period began with quiet conditions, but increased to quiet to unsettled levels late on 21 March due to the onset of a weak, positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Predominately quiet to unsettled conditions persisted through early on 24 March under the influence of the positive poarity CH HSS. Wind speeds averaged about 425 km/s through midday on 23 March. A gradual increase was then observed to a peak of near 565 km/s early on 25 March before decreasing to about 350 km/s late on 26 March. From 21-25 March, total field (Bt) ranged between 1-10 nT while the Bz component varied between +9 nT to -5 nT.

Quiet conditions persisted from late on the 25th through 26 March. Predominately unsettled levels were observed on 27 March due to the onset of a co-rotating interaction region in advance of another positive polarity CH HSS. On 27 March, wind speeds increased to near 440 km/s, Bt reached a maximum value of 12 nT while the Bz component rotated between +8 nT to -9 nT.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 28 March – 23 April 2016

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a slight chance for C-class flares through the outlook period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at moderate levels on 28 March and on 01-03, 07-11 and 17-23 April. High levels are expected on 29-31 March, 04-06 and 12-16 April.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be reach G1 (Minor) storm levels on 02-03 and 11-13 April with G2 (Moderate) storm levels expected on 02 and 11 April due to the influence of recurrent, negative polarity CH HSSs. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected on 28-29 March, 04, 08, 14 and 23 April, with isolated active levels expected on 28 March and 23 April, all due to various CH HSSs. Mostly quiet condtions are expected for the remainder of the outlook period.

Don’t forget to visit our live space weather and radio propagation web site, at: http://SunSpotWatch.com/

Live Aurora mapping is at http://aurora.sunspotwatch.com/

If you are on Twitter, please follow these two users: + https://Twitter.com/NW7US + https://Twitter.com/hfradiospacewx

Get the space weather and radio propagation self-study course, today. Visit http://nw7us.us/swc for the latest sale and for more information!

Check out the stunning view of our Sun in action, as seen during the last five years with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXN-MdoGM9g

We’re on Facebook: http://NW7US.us/swhfr

This video is ten minutes of coolness.

This cool time-lapse video shows the Sun (in ultra-high definition 3840×2160 – 4k on YouTube) during the entire year, 2015. The video captures the Sun in the 171-angstrom wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light. Our naked, unaided eyes cannot see this, but this movie uses false-colorization (yellow/gold) so that we can watch in high definition.

The movie covers a time period of January 2, 2015 to January 28, 2016 at a cadence of one frame every hour, or 24 frames per day. This timelapse is repeated with narration by solar scientist Nicholeen Viall and contains close-ups and annotations. The 171-angstrom light highlights material around 600,000 Kelvin and shows features in the upper transition region and quiet corona of the sun.

The first half tells you a bit about the video and the Sun, and you can see the entire year 2015 rotate by.  The second half is narrated by a NASA scientist.  It is worth watching all ten minutes.  And, then, sharing!

The sun is always changing and NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory is always watching.

Launched on Feb. 11, 2010, SDO keeps a 24-hour eye on the entire disk of the sun, with a prime view of the graceful dance of solar material coursing through the sun’s atmosphere, the corona. SDO’s sixth year in orbit was no exception. This video shows that entire sixth year–from Jan. 1, 2015 to Jan. 28, 2016 as one time-lapse sequence. Each frame represents 1 hour.

SDO’s Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) captures a shot of the sun every 12 seconds in 10 different wavelengths. The images shown here are based on a wavelength of 171 angstroms, which is in the extreme ultraviolet range and shows solar material at around 600,000 Kelvin (about 1 million degrees F.) In this wavelength it is easy to see the sun’s 25-day rotation.

During the course of the video, the sun subtly increases and decreases in apparent size. This is because the distance between the SDO spacecraft and the sun varies over time. The image is, however, remarkably consistent and stable despite the fact that SDO orbits Earth at 6,876 mph and the Earth orbits the sun at 67,062 miles per hour.

A blending of an entire year, 2015, of the Sun as seen by NASA SDO at EUV 171 Angstroms

Why This is Important

Scientists study these images to better understand the complex electromagnetic system causing the constant movement on the sun, which can ultimately have an effect closer to Earth, too: Flares and another type of solar explosion called coronal mass ejections can sometimes disrupt technology in space. Moreover, studying our closest star is one way of learning about other stars in the galaxy. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. built, operates, and manages the SDO spacecraft for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.

For us radio enthusiasts, the study of the Sun helps us understand the dynamics of radio signal propagation.  And, that aids us in communicating more effectively and skill.

Thanks for sharing, voting, and watching.  More information and live Sun content can be accessed 24/7 at http://SunSpotWatch.com

You can also get the Space Weather and Radio Propagation Self-study Course at http://SunSpotWatch.com/swc

Here is this week’s space weather and geophysical report, issued 2016 Mar 21 0054 UTC.

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 14 – 20 March 2016

Solar activity ranged from very low to low levels during the period. Low levels were observed on 15, 16 and 19 March due to isolated, weak C-class flares from Regions 2521 (N19, L=029, class/area Dao/080 on 14 Mar) and 2522 (N14, L=078, class/area Cao/040 on 15 Mar). No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed in coronagraph imagery.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at moderate levels on 14, 15 and 19 March and high levels on 16-18 and 20 March.

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to minor storm levels (G1-minor). The period began with quiet conditions, but increased to unsettled to minor storm levels late on 14 March due to the onset of a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) in advance of a coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) that originated from a negative extension off of the southern crown. With the CIR, wind speeds rapidly increased from about 360 km/s to near 565 km/s by late on the 14th. The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) responded with total field (Bt) readings of 23 nT while the Bz component rotated between +18 nT to – 19 nT.

Geomagnetic field conditions remained elevated through 18 March with quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind conditions also remained enhanced with wind speeds that approached 600 km/s midday on the 17th. Bt and Bz relaxed by early on 15 March with Bt fairly steady at 10 nT with Bz varying between +/- 8 nT. 18 and 19 March saw quiet to active levels due to prolonged periods of southward Bz. During this time frame, wind speeds averaged about 425 km/s.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 21 March – 16 April 2016

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a chance for C-class activity throughout the outlook period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be high levels on 21-22 March, 04-06 April and 12-16 April. Normal to moderate levels are expected for the remainder of the outlook period.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach G2-moderate storm levels on 02 April with G1-minor storm levels expected on 03, 11-13 April due to the influence of recurrent, negative polarity CH HSSs. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected for the remainder of the outlook period under a nominal solar wind regime.

Don’t forget to visit our live space weather and radio propagation web site, at: http://SunSpotWatch.com/

Live Aurora mapping is at http://aurora.sunspotwatch.com/

If you are on Twitter, please follow these two users: + https://Twitter.com/NW7US + https://Twitter.com/hfradiospacewx

Get the space weather and radio propagation self-study course, today. Visit http://nw7us.us/swc for the latest sale and for more information!

Check out the stunning view of our Sun in action, as seen during the last five years with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXN-MdoGM9g

We’re on Facebook: http://NW7US.us/swhfr

Here is this week’s space weather and geophysical report, issued 2016 Mar 14 0430 UTC.

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 07 – 13 March 2016

Solar activity reached low levels on 08-09 and 12 March. The largest event of the period was a C3 flare from Region 2519 (N05, L=007, class/area=Cso/80 on 13 Mar) at 09/1250 UTC. Very low levels of solar activity were observed throughout the remainder of the period. No coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed in coronagraph imagery were determined to be Earth-directed.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels on 07-11 Mar and decreased to moderate levels on 12-13 Mar.

Geomagnetic field activity reached G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels early on 07 Mar due to the influence of a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Activity levels subsided to quiet to unsettled levels on 08 Mar and quiet levels by 09 Mar. Quiet to unsettled conditions were observed on 10 Mar and continued into early on 11 Mar when the co-rotating interaction region (CIR) ahead of a positive polarity CH HSS caused G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm conditions. As the CH HSS progressed, conditions tapered down to active levels early on 12 Mar and into quiet to unsettled for the remainder of the day. Activity continued to subside with only quiet conditions observed on 13 Mar.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 14 March – 09 April 2016

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a chance for C-class flares throughout the forecast period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 16-21 Mar and 04-06 Apr. Moderate levels are expected on 22 Mar-03 Apr and 07-09 Apr. Normal levels are expected on 14-15 Mar.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach G1 (Minor) storm levels on 15-16 Mar and 02-03 Apr due to the influence of a negative polarity CH HSS. Active conditions are expected on 17 Mar and 08 Apr. Unsettled conditions are expected 18 Mar and 01, 04, 07, 08 Apr. Quiet conditions are expected throughout the remainder of the outlook period under a nominal solar wind regime.

Don’t forget to visit our live space weather and radio propagation web site, at: http://SunSpotWatch.com/

Live Aurora mapping is at http://aurora.sunspotwatch.com/

If you are on Twitter, please follow these two users: + https://Twitter.com/NW7US + https://Twitter.com/hfradiospacewx

Get the space weather and radio propagation self-study course, today. Visit http://nw7us.us/swc for the latest sale and for more information!

Check out the stunning view of our Sun in action, as seen during the last five years with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXN-MdoGM9g

We’re on Facebook: http://NW7US.us/swhfr

Here is this week’s space weather and geophysical report, issued 2016 Mar 07 0539 UTC.

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 29 February – 06 March 2016

Solar activity reached low levels on 04 March due to a C1 flare from Region 2506 (S06, L=223, class/area=Dai/130 on 29 Feb) at 0900 UTC. Very low levels were observed for the remainder of the period. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in coronagraph imagery.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached moderate levels throughout the period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet or quiet to unsettled levels until 06 March, when a negative polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS) became geoeffective. During the onset of the co-rotating interaction region (CIR) total field (Bt) to a maximum of 22 nT at 06/1646 UTC while the Bz component reached a maximum southward deflection of -18 nT at 06/1834 UTC. Solar wind speeds increased to a peak of around 580 km/s at the end of the period. The geomagnetic field reached G1 (Minor) during the 1500-1800 synoptic period, G2 (Moderate) during the 1800-2100 synoptic period, and G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm levels during the 2100-2400 UTC synoptic period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 07 March – 02 April 2016

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels, with a chance for C-class flares, throughout the forecast period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels from 07-10 March and 17-22 March due to CH HSS effects. Moderate levels are expected from 11-16 March and 23 March – 02 April.

Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels on 07 March, 17-19 March, and 02 Apr in reponse to effects from multiple coronal holes. Quiet to quiet to unsettled conditions are anticipated for rest of the forecast period under nominal solar wind conditions.

Don’t forget to visit our live space weather and radio propagation web site, at: http://SunSpotWatch.com/

Live Aurora mapping is at http://aurora.sunspotwatch.com/

If you are on Twitter, please follow these two users: + https://Twitter.com/NW7US + https://Twitter.com/hfradiospacewx

Get the space weather and radio propagation self-study course, today. Visit http://nw7us.us/swc for the latest sale and for more information!

Check out the stunning view of our Sun in action, as seen during the last five years with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXN-MdoGM9g

We’re on Facebook: http://NW7US.us/swhfr

What is the proper (and most efficient) technique for creating Morse code by hand, using a manual Morse code key? Ham radio operators find Morse code (and the ‘CW’ mode, or ‘Continuous Wave’ keying mode) very useful, even though Morse code is no longer required as part of the licensing process. Morse code is highly effective in weak-signal radio work. And, preppers love Morse code because it is the most efficient way to communicate when there is a major disaster that could wipe out the communications infrastructure.

While this military film is antique, the vintage information is timeless, as the material is applicable to Morse code, even today.

More about Morse code, at my website: http://cw.hfradio.org

Thank you for watching, commenting, and most of all, for subscribing. By subscribing, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more… my YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/NW7US

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